The Biddy Mason Global Network, California Black Women’s Health Project and the Beloved Community Coalition will host “Black Excellence ¾ Our Passion, Our Mission, Our Legacy” on Saturday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Biddy Mason Memorial Park, 333 S. Spring St., in downtown Los Angeles.
Former slave Bridget “Biddy” Mason was an activist, who was also a nurse, philanthropist and real estate entrepreneur. She opened a traveler’s center, operated an elementary school for Black children and donated the land to establish First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest church founded by Blacks in L.A.
Reflecting on Mason’s legacy, Diane Mitchell Henry, event organizer, said, “Her testimony echoes the resilience of perseverance, tenacity, and empowerment. She ‘kept a-steppin’ despite the deliberate and evil denial of her inalienable rights.
“This year’s Celebration’s theme acknowledges the tenacity, perseverance, and faith of Black activist leaders and how they have kept a-steppin’. They unrelentingly and unstoppably stayed focused. We recognize the challenges of the oppressive injustices encountered by the unsung sheroes and good brothers,” she said.
The honorees are Dr. Marie Augusta Adam, Marie Blair Jacqueline Castillo, Felicia Francis Edward, BeNeca Griffin, Melitta Johnson, Carol McGruder, Carla Norman, Dr. Alisa Orduna, and Dr. Sally Ann Payton, Dawn Sutherland, Juanita Tillman West, Pastor Stephan Cue Jn Marie and Tyree Boyd Pates.
The presenters are former Councilmember and city general manager Jan Perry, the Rev. Kelvin Sauls and Alvetia Smith of the U.S. Postal Service. Wes Hall will be the emcee. Other participants are DJ Xavier Henderson of “SoundfulofNoise,” actor Candice Lenoir, dancer Samara Williams, and the Rev. C.E. Washington.
“Through continuous oppression, Miss Biddy stood the test of time. She embraced the empowerment of God’s grace and mercy despite the disenfranchisement of her human rights. Unapologetically, under-grided with the encouragement of her support team of Black men and white allies, she embraced her power and kept a-steppin,” Henry said.
“As we pay homage, the other intent of the celebration is to inspire the masses to emulate Ms. Biddy Mason’s community services to the under-represented communities. Ms. Biddy Mason did not talk the talk, but walked the walk.
“To step up my game for self-care in honor of Miss Biddy Mason, I started calculating the number of steps taken daily. I made it my goal to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps daily, equivalent to approximately five miles. Based on studies, a walking routine can reduce health concerns such as for overweight, high blood pressure, irregular sleeping patterns, and depression and anxiety.
“I encourage all of us to stay in excellent physical, mental, and spiritual shape, so we work toward social and economic justice. Not being in shape can be a deterrent, keeping one in bondage, distracting one from the business of empowerment, and contributing effective humanitarian solutions to social and economic justice.
“According to Ephesians 2:10, ‘For we are His creation, created in the Spirit of God for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them,’ to fight the good fight, so that our testimonies declare we kept a steppin,” said Henry.
The celebration is a free event with complimentary first-come, first-served parking. For information, email [email protected].
